BVI News

Premier’s frequent travel was unsettling — Lorna Smith

Former Deputy Premier Lorna Smith levelled strong criticism at Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley over his frequent travel outside the territory, arguing that it distracted from crucial issues on the ground.

Smith’s recent statement described the Premier’s travel as “unsettling”, suggesting that she perceives these frequent absences as a sign of misaligned priorities.

Smith, who served as Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour and Trade until her recent dismissal, suggested that these frequent absences might be affecting government responsibilities. “Your frequent travel outside of the territory was unsettling as you were not according the highest priority to leading our country nor completing the requirements of the COI,” Smith wrote in a letter to the Premier immediately following her dismissal last month.

The former Deputy Premier pointed out that many issues remain unresolved within the territory, including infrastructure challenges and financial priorities. Smith noted that her “key focus” was on the BVI’s “failing infrastructure,” pointing to ongoing issues with the roads, water systems, and electricity supply. She argued that these concerns have been neglected and need urgent attention.

Alarmed at concert funding

One of Smith’s primary concerns was that the Premier’s time and the government’s limited resources had not been prioritised adequately, especially considering that the administration allocated significant funds to host events, which she deemed unnecessary.

“Your decision to hold three concerts since becoming Premier, at a cost of close to a million dollars to the country, alarmed me,” she shared while questioning the financial prudence behind such expenditures when other pressing needs exist. Smith previously voiced her concerns in the House of Assembly, describing the Premier’s unilateral decision to fund an upcoming Vybz Kartel concert as “beyond the pale”.

Smith further criticised the dismissal process, expressing disappointment in the Premier’s approach. She suggested that her removal was more about consolidating control than addressing performance-related issues. “You chose to dismiss me by stealth and surprise, informing me of it after having already asked and secured Julian Fraser’s agreement to cross the floor and assume the roles in your government, which you have given to him,” she stated.

Despite the recent challenges, Smith reaffirmed her commitment to serving the people of the Virgin Islands, even as she transitions to a role outside the Cabinet.

“I remain honoured to have been elected by the people of the Virgin Islands,” she stated, adding that her dedication to the territory’s progress remains strong.

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33 Comments

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  1. Oh Delilah says:

    Stop it! stop it! You must stop it

    Like 18
    Dislike 16
    • Ironic says:

      The ironic thing is that a man that probably 95% of the readership of this publication agrees with (Trump) is doing the exact same thing ( electing cabinet members that are loyal to him) , and they have no issues with that, but a local Leader does it and it’s an issue. I am not stating whether it is right or wrong but lets not be hypocritical about it.

      Like 6
      Dislike 17
  2. Sour grapes says:

    You didnt know that when you and your entourage were jetsetting to Guyana?

    Like 38
    Dislike 10
  3. Lol says:

    I thought miss p was bitter but this one is way more bitter

    Like 19
    Dislike 9
  4. Fed up says:

    This is the hypocrisy that I cannot take. I listened to the opposition speak about this travel and she used to get up and defend it vigorously. Now because she got fired it’s all of a sudden a problem. She only got fired yesterday and now today it’s a problem. I will never vote for you again. I regret doing it in the first place.

    Like 39
    Dislike 6
  5. Old saying says:

    What sweet in goat mouth does sour in their bam bam

    Like 23
    Dislike 1
  6. @ OH DELILAH & SOUR GRAPE says:

    wigo that’s straight from your pen / now you give cindy a chance to breathe , so it’s Lorna’s time for you to flexx off your dirty subterfuge mentality on , you cannot walk in her shoes / she would of been better .. than you could of ever been , that’s why ‘he’ dropped kicked you out of the HOA one good thing he achieved / you are … a real nuisance to us and yourself , it’s just that it ain’t register in your head as yet

    Like 1
    Dislike 4
  7. cutting the grass says:

    Politics should be honorable but really it looks like a den of snakes. The one that was cut loose is cutting the grass but guess what when people call for certain change and you all sleep on it out of fear for your job and image how do you think that feels. Only now they want to put up cameras. The money used to fly around and party could have done that long ago.

    People been dying.

    Its a betrayal to those that voted!

  8. cutting the grass says:

    You all talk about increasing revenue, getting more streams of income. What happened to the Gambling, you all passed a law and forgot about it? I hear no investment in gambling.

    What happened to the cannabis law 2020 no progress and you are afraid to talk about it but still want to squeeze revenue from farming. How are you going to tax the farmers for revenue>>>>>

    Let the farmers grow weed, let the people grow weed and stay off the street, let the hustlers sell weed to the tourist and call the police if someone robs them.

    stop criminalizing the youth for a plant these politicians are turning them on to a culture of crime & gangs. That is what happened when alcohol was illegal, Al capone, bootleggers, smugglers.

    Now we go to the bar or buy a bottle of wine in the store and no one cares. Alcohol is waaay stronger than weed.

    Ignorant of the medicine politicians want a solution for security and revenue.

    Every place that legalize and have crime out of control did it too late. That is the result of criminalizing near 25% of society or more. The office people are smoking street weed.

    We dont know what is on that crap and Puerto Rico has a fent problem. The police did raids this year in town and there was crack and weed in the same places!

    For the sake of politics they going to wait to late until our people to get addicted to real addictive drugs and suffer fatal overdoses.

    Like 5
    Dislike 4
    • Gambling law? says:

      If gambling law passed, likely it would have been used to launder the dirty money the former Premier was hoping to channel through these isles from the cartel. No money. No gamble.

  9. Chaka Demus & Pliers says:

    WHAT ah BAM BAM, murder she wrote, muuurder she wrote…mask slip and everything comes out!

  10. E. Van. says:

    Why would it be unsettling when who ever wanted to know what the entire party,led by Andrew,knew what its intentions were upon being elected?

    From the Valley of Virgin Gorda to the high peaks of Tortola, it was solely and only about getting personally rich, rich, richer that Branson.

    And that objective has not changed despite the cutting off of the leaders’ head.

    Sadly, the power brokers, business, educated and lunies are going to vote themselves four more.

    As, the BVI voting populace has never shown maturity or political advancement.

    Hence, the politically corrupt, dirty and lacking political,moral and ethical hygiene are the ones they seem keen on drinking more kool aid.

  11. ? says:

    You went with him!

    Like 10
  12. What!!!! says:

    Didn’t complain when you were traveling all over the globe first class on our money.

    Like 9
    Dislike 2
  13. Henry says:

    Miss. Hodge should be the last to talk about or condemn anyone about traveling on our dollar. Is she suggesting that the premiere’s traveling was less meaningful than her own? Where were all these criticisms before now. You are displaying every reason to be out of such an important position – lack of allegiance and trust.
    All the best though miss.

    Like 2
    Dislike 1
  14. @ CUTTING THE GRASS says:

    You need a good cut asz , weed ain’t the problem weed is and has been grown , smoked here for years / so why you are anxious about this WEED ❓️ is it gonna take us out of this situation we are in ❓️ is it gonna take us to heaven ❓️ you need to throw that WIG in the gabbage WIGO , this ain’t the HOA – / WE NEED TO FOCUS ON * AGRICULTURE * INSTEAD OF WEED WEED WEED WEED –
    DUH‍

    Like 1
    Dislike 1
  15. LB says:

    The concerts are well above $1million! Kartel alone will be $1million by itself!

  16. cutting the grass says:

    I think you need to chill assuming everyone is the same for every comment. Yes it would take us out of this situation because the crime starts with the prohibition environment we live in.

    Yes it might get you to heaven because it is a plant god made to heal certain people and make them think. No one is forcing you to take it.

    You dont like brocoli fine, but what if the brocoli in the store has mold & pesticides and maybe crack dust. is that ok because you dont like it?

    Some people need it for their medical conditions.

    Would you rather take one of the medicine with a quick read off of side effects including but not limited to death, heart attack, stroke, how about muscle spasms which may be permanent?

    Next thing you are going to ask is can the people eat weed and the answer is yes. The whole plant is edible and has its place among the super foods.

    More tourist will come here over the USVI & Jamacia where it is not safe for them to venture out.

    More people will engage in planting especially the youth and learn to be agriculturist. A large part of society will stop avoiding the police.

    Police can focus on the real crime, sit on the block smoke a joint with the boys after hours. They do it at the bar so why not.

    Focus on the cocaine, the crack and protect us from fentanyl which can be sprayed on ANYTHING. It is not hard for someone with broken morals to sprinkle a little crack dust on weed.

    We have a cannabis bill that is gathering dust.

    No one is forcing you so lay off because your kid could end up smoking fentanyl in a few years and keel over dead by accident. Or they could get that crack dusted weed and end up sucking D for crack.

    When that crack & fent really hits only then we will see robberies like never before.

    Government, governor, police have to do something different what is going on for years is not working it is breeding more crime and making the police into a joke.

    Placing people in a cage for a plant is as much nonsense as owning a slave. Come back when you have some thing factual and sensible to say.

    Wig out. Ciao

  17. 1st district original says:

    With all the back and forth, I don’t give 2 pennies. READ THE FODOS article! It’s time for the Sl**ande to vacate our HOA! He has bring ememce shame to our shore and bullying the author too.
    Too young,
    inexperience to even recognize a world wide reputable tourism travel magazine.read his attitude and the push back in the last paragraphs. SHAME, SHAME, WORLD WIDE!!

  18. @ CUTTING THE GRASS says:

    U seems to gotten your nerve stepped on but a guilty conscience needs no accuser ( mr wigo ) you of al people should know that . Instead , you playing a scientist , or psychic , next thing you might think you is Jesus who has came down from heaven to save us ▪︎ yeah rite , probably a psycho on the loose as it is said on the streets ▪︎ you got to be on something 》whatever you on please don’t share it with us – wiggie ‘ out

  19. Cutting the grass says:

    By your own reasoning I guess you got your nerve stepped on? Psycho scientist blah blah you still can not come with anything sensible or factual.

    You know how easy it is to insult a person I held back. Who is the psycho in this both of you have nothing to say except sling mud. Wait till you kids get on something but its not funny I dont wish that on them. The people in the states are dropping like flies from fentanyl.

  20. Cutting the grass says:

    One said I need my az cut the next one said Im a psycho. I must be doing something right. Both of you have a mental problem but I will leave it at that. Get yourself checked out because if you aren’t on anything then you have a medical problem.

    You dont care about me I dont care about you, Im speaking of bigger problems to fix our decaying society. Our neighbor Puerto Rico is filled with fentanyl. Remember it when the addicts burglarize your place 5 years from now or your kids overdose on hard drugs.

  21. BVI? says:

    Lorna Smith what about your traveles?

  22. LORNA STOP THE NOISE says:

    Is this news ? Or are You trying You to do a take over ???! From now I watch You different LORNA!!!!!!!!!! Stating this prejudicial behavior out!!!!!! Theres id and must be a reason. Before calling it “NEWS” You should have had just asked! Are we standing United, LORNA???? Anguilla is right there! …

    LoRNA AINT GOOD IN HER HEADDDDDDD!!!!!! THE B.V.I is deadly, The premiere was doing THE RIGHT THING! BY TIME YOURE DONE ITLL WOULD BEEN POPPING! THE POTS HOLES YEAH, TO BE 100 LORNA ANGUILLA RIGHT THERE . YOU R TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE WRONG PL ACE . THIS IS A FAMILY !!!!!!! ANGUILLA RIGHT THERE! YOURE TALKING RHETORIC !!!!!! Go…

    THE Premiere does a splendid JOB! What are You TALKING about?

    Other than that the B.V.I is perfect just a the pot holes and a bit here and there! What do You do again ???!!!! LORNAAAAA???

  23. PREMIERE WHEATLEY IS AMAZING says:

    While things happen I believe You should keep youre mouth shut from dividing US and setring animousity against such… We deal with reality NOT youre agenda TAKE OVER SEEETHEART!!!! SORRY AINT GIT NO MALE WHORE HOUSE ! NOW IF HE DID ThAT WE WILL BE UPSET UNITEDLY!!!! AND YOUD BE HAPPY!!!! HOW ABOUT THAT?! I AM SURE WHO NEED TO KNOW, KNOWS!!! WHAT DO YOU DO AGAIN WITH THAT TITTLE!!!!???

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